Joining the Police

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ED209

5,746 posts

245 months

Friday 8th June 2018
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LosingGrip said:
So yesterday I was meant to find out...no news still. Phoned them up at 1630 and the person dealing with it was off :rollseyes:. Was told I'd find out today...still haven't. Still two hours to go though.
They will send you an email at 4.59pm then log off immediately and go home. Just so you cannot have any queries answered until monday. Standard practice from police HR types.

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,822 posts

160 months

Friday 8th June 2018
quotequote all
ED209 said:
They will send you an email at 4.59pm then log off immediately and go home. Just so you cannot have any queries answered until monday. Standard practice from police HR types.
Thats what they did a couple of years ago! Saves them from all the backlash!

Sa Calobra

37,169 posts

212 months

Saturday 9th June 2018
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LosingGrip said:
So yesterday I was meant to find out...no news still. Phoned them up at 1630 and the person dealing with it was off :rollseyes:. Was told I'd find out today...still haven't. Still two hours to go though.
I worked in a high HR globally. I worked with many nationalities who were bright, had high levels of customer ethos etc. Etc.

Then I encountered the Police HR/recruitment. Think of those who wouldn't even make a recruitment consultant (they hire these as outsourced experts to assist).

It became really really frustrating for me.

I was once told 'your not the first person to call and ask today we are snowed under with these calls'. I replied 'ehy not set up a text or email update'. Just a basic thing. Hey presto. That was just a simple thing. Silence silence then 'can you start asap'?

They weren't rude on the phone, far from it. It's your first glimpse into the Cops. You'll see people on 40k doing 15k jobs. That astounded me. I've still got my private sector mindset.

ED209

5,746 posts

245 months

Saturday 9th June 2018
quotequote all
Sa Calobra said:
LosingGrip said:
So yesterday I was meant to find out...no news still. Phoned them up at 1630 and the person dealing with it was off :rollseyes:. Was told I'd find out today...still haven't. Still two hours to go though.
I worked in a high HR globally. I worked with many nationalities who were bright, had high levels of customer ethos etc. Etc.

Then I encountered the Police HR/recruitment. Think of those who wouldn't even make a recruitment consultant (they hire these as outsourced experts to assist).

It became really really frustrating for me.

I was once told 'your not the first person to call and ask today we are snowed under with these calls'. I replied 'ehy not set up a text or email update'. Just a basic thing. Hey presto. That was just a simple thing. Silence silence then 'can you start asap'?

They weren't rude on the phone, far from it. It's your first glimpse into the Cops. You'll see people on 40k doing 15k jobs. That astounded me. I've still got my private sector mindset.
The email thing is an idea my force has started using for notifying results of promotion boards. They did it a couple of weeks ago but it still took them until 16:45 to send the emails out. Fortunately after 13 years of being qualified i eventually passed. I understand why they sent the notifications by email but I would have preferred a phone call from the chief like they have always done previously for successful candidates.

Sa Calobra

37,169 posts

212 months

Saturday 9th June 2018
quotequote all
It's not hard is it? A few calls made by the man. Sure he/she isn't that busy

ED209

5,746 posts

245 months

Sunday 10th June 2018
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Sa Calobra said:
It's not hard is it? A few calls made by the man. Sure he/she isn't that busy
It was meant to reduce speculation and to make sure that all of the candidates (about 60) knew their results at the same time. They did let us know in advance what they were doing though so at least it was expected.

I can see arguments both ways having previously been the victim of a total shambles when they didn't contact me to inform me I had failed. They had been ringing my old mobile number from about 10 years previous, instead of the contact i actually put on the application form.

Sa Calobra

37,169 posts

212 months

Sunday 10th June 2018
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Loyly said:
My friend had a written exercise in dealing with boy racers in the Westshire Centre car park and scenarios based on conflict management and dispute resolution. The usual scenario fodder; dispute over smoking breaks, reports of a staff member heard using racist language and a complaint from a parent of an autistic boy who had been told off for playing in a fountain. That was ten years ago, glad to see the Westshire Centre is still a management nightmare.

My friend was advised before going to the assessment centre on how the marking structure works. There were books available on it and in reality, the exercises, particularly the scenario exercises, were pretty easy to ace if you knew the right things to say and treat the engagement like following a flow chart.
I remember that I scored 25% for "dealing with the public" on the scenario section of westshire.

I pulled it back on the final interview that was attached/on the same day and my exam scores but I found the test telling me I was basically substandard on dealing with the public funny. After all that's the point of the job and I've descalated so many bad situations both before and after peacefully along with people skills.

What makes me shudder is good people who would make good people-person cops might not get a job yet alot of recruits I met had little people skills, personality or any interests outside the job. They must have done their homework on how to beat the tests. I didn't.

Fast forward and the same people will climb the rank structure.

It makes me shudder

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,822 posts

160 months

Sunday 10th June 2018
quotequote all
ED209 said:
It was meant to reduce speculation and to make sure that all of the candidates (about 60) knew their results at the same time. They did let us know in advance what they were doing though so at least it was expected.

I can see arguments both ways having previously been the victim of a total shambles when they didn't contact me to inform me I had failed. They had been ringing my old mobile number from about 10 years previous, instead of the contact i actually put on the application form.
Hasn't worked this time as someone else on the same assessment day found out last Tuesday. Admittedly a different force and I was the only one for there.

Edited by LosingGrip on Sunday 27th January 12:12

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,822 posts

160 months

Monday 11th June 2018
quotequote all
Update...

I passed!

Greendubber

13,222 posts

204 months

Monday 11th June 2018
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LosingGrip said:
Update...

I passed!
Wehey!

Well done!

What's next?

GreatGranny

9,128 posts

227 months

Monday 11th June 2018
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That was stressful for us all :-)

Well done!

bilhound

79 posts

87 months

Monday 11th June 2018
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Congratulations. I'm waiting to begin my training in another force area. If you need any tips/advice on what is coming up then pm me.

andy_s

19,405 posts

260 months

Monday 11th June 2018
quotequote all
LosingGrip said:
Update...

I passed!
Good one!

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,822 posts

160 months

Monday 11th June 2018
quotequote all
Thanks all!

Greendubber said:
Wehey!

Well done!

What's next?
Another interview. From what I've heard this is a lot more relaxed and more importantly its held in force, so no driving for hours! They aren't sure when this will be. This assessment centre was from when I applied last year. I got to do another one so soon as I appealed the outcome last time without having to apply again. They haven't recruited this year yet. So could be some when next year.

Tony 1234

3,465 posts

228 months

Monday 11th June 2018
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GreatGranny said:
That was stressful for us all :-)

Well done!
Phew! yes I'll sleep better tonight now smile

Red 4

10,744 posts

188 months

Monday 11th June 2018
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LosingGrip said:
Update...

I passed!
Well done Dude.

I believe you're a Special Constable currently ?

If I were you I'd speak to as many Regular Student Officers as you can and try to get a feel for the kind of questions you may be asked at your final interview.

Best of luck and well done (again).

surveyor_101

5,069 posts

180 months

Monday 11th June 2018
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What’s the appeal of police now the pension and age has been reduced?

I know some thrive on the authority but you have to bust a nut for 23k a year starting. Your a probie for two years and ain’t worth squat.

Direct entry with a degree to a rank is appealing I suppose.

I always wanted to a copper and when I joined I quickly realised that it’s a hard, badly paid and worst of all my relationship went up in smoke soon as I started working silly anti social hours.

There don’t seem many decent coppers left, just the power hungry idiots or over qualified academics who really are in the wrong job.

anonymous-user

55 months

Monday 11th June 2018
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Well done, all the best with your career.

andy_s

19,405 posts

260 months

Monday 11th June 2018
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I saw this the other day, not sure what my grizzled, old, whiskey in the bottom drawer, 30 fags a day, snout on the blower, DCI would have made of it all... smile

Police detective entry system targets graduates

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44433881

Greendubber

13,222 posts

204 months

Monday 11th June 2018
quotequote all
andy_s said:
I saw this the other day, not sure what my grizzled, old, whiskey in the bottom drawer, 30 fags a day, snout on the blower, DCI would have made of it all... smile

Police detective entry system targets graduates

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44433881
It's ridiculous, 12 weeks?

Priceless.